MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS C. BRANDT Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Brandt is chief of staff, Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. General Brandt was born in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1933, where he graduated from William Penn High School. He attended the University of Pennsylvania in 1951. The general earned a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1956 and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1960. He completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1972 and the executive program at the Colgate Darden Graduate School Business, University of Virginia, in 1977. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, General Brandt was commissioned in the Air Force. After completing the basic installation engineering officer course at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, he was assigned as a civil engineer at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., in October 1956. He then attended graduate school and subsequently was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in April 1960. There he served as an instrumentation officer, guidance officer for the Atlas program, test evaluation officer for the Minuteman program and, finally, launch director for Minuteman testing. In 1964 he was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy as an instructor in the department of astronautics, then as assistant professor, associate professor and executive officer in the same department. He next became deputy director of academic counseling and scheduling, and then, director. General Brandt was assigned as a civil engineer staff officer at Headquarters 7th Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in October 1970. While there he served as director of operations and maintenance, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Engineering. He then attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and was named a distinguished graduate. In June 1972 he transferred to Ent Air Force Base, Colo., as director of programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Engineering, Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command, and then as director, plant engineering, in the same deputate. He was commander of the Aerospace Defense Command's 1st Aerospace Control Squadron and director of space and warning operations for the North American Air Defense Command from July 1973 until March 1976. The general then was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development as deputy director for planning, programming and analysis. General Brandt became the director in March 1977 and, in March 1978, became assistant for special projects in the same deputate. He directly served the deputy chief of staff as his representative for special management and resource activities. In July 1979 he was assigned to Headquarters North American Air Defense Command, Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., as assistant deputy chief of staff for space operations. After the reorganization of Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command, the general became the director of space and missile warning operations. General Brandt became assistant deputy chief of staff, operations for combat operations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colo., in March 1980 and served consecutively as the first Space Command assistant deputy chief of staff, operations for combat operations, from September 1982. In May 1983 he became deputy chief of staff, intelligence, for the U.S. Air Force Space Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, with consolidated headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base. From March 1984 to January 1986 the general served as director of the joint planning staff for space, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. In this capacity he served as the principal planner for creating the U.S. Space Command. He then was assigned as vice commander, Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. He assumed his present duties in October 1987. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS The general wears both the Master Space and Master Missile badges. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION He was promoted to major general April 1,1984, with date of rank Sept. 1,1980. (Current as of August 1989)